The GHSA’s decision this week to change the format of the state basketball tournament seems to have met with general approval among head coaches.
The playoff brackets now match those of football, soccer and baseball, meaning schools from regions 1 through 4 (mostly Middle and South Georgia) will meet schools from region 5 through 8 (mostly North Georgia) beginning with the quarterfinals rather than the semifinals.
The perception is that regions 5 through 8 are much stronger than 1 through 4, leading to many of the top teams getting eliminated before the semifinals. Teams from regions 5 through 8 have won 15 of the past 20 state titles in classes AAAAAA to AA.
Class A uses different bracket setups.
“There have been many years when three or four teams from the North could have easily been in the semifinals, but they play each other in the quarterfinals, and then the semifinal game is not very competitive,’’ said Greater Atlanta Christian girls coach Cal Boyd, whose team lost in overtime in the AA quarterfinals to eventual champion Kendrick. Both teams were from regions 5 through 8.
Kendrick won its semifinal 75-50 against Putnam County, a team that won the half of the bracket with regions 1 through 4. “I think it is pretty rare for a team from the South to win a state title in any classification, so I like the proposal,’’ Boyd said.
Tift County boys coach Eric Holland, whose team became the first from South Georgia to win the highest class in 16 years, expressed concern that he and other coaches weren’t asked for input before Monday’s vote, which passed unanimously by the GHSA’s executive committee. Holland was among a handful of coaches contacted by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution who hadn’t heard the news.
“At some point, you’ve got to play somebody, and it doesn’t matter when you play them,’’ Holland said. “I just didn’t like the fact that we didn’t have a chance to see if we’re for that or we’re not.’’
West Forsyth coach leaves for Florida: Frank Hepler, who started West Forsyth's football program in 2007, resigned this week and will become defensive coordinator for a school 15 miles from his South Florida hometown of Plantation. Hepler, 51, had been a successful head coach at his alma mater, Plantation High, where he was 135-30 in 14 seasons. Hepler's new position will be at nearby Cypress Bay High in Weston. Hepler and his wife have family in Florida. Hepler was 51-18 in his seven seasons at West Forsyth. The Wolverines won a region title in 2012, when the team averaged 40.3 points per game under quarterback A.J. Erdley, now at Middle Tennessee.
Griffin needs coaches: Class AAAA football champion Griffin must replace its three top coaches this offseason. Justin Rogers, the offensive coordinator, was approved as head coach of Jones County in a school board meeting this week. Coach Steve DeVoursney resigned last week after a five-month investigation into alleged recruiting and academic misconduct. DeVoursney denied any wrongdoing. Defensive coordinator Rusty Easom was hired to the same position at East Coweta last month.
Coaching updates: Lambert will promote offensive coordinator Louis Daniel to head coach, pending school-board approval on Thursday. … Reggie Mitchell resigned at Americus-Sumter after one season, saying it wasn't the right fit. Americus-Sumter was 4-6 last season with its third coach in three seasons. … Campbell hired Hillgrove defensive line coach and co-coordinator Ryan Brady to replace Harris Rainbow, who was forced out. … Matt Casper is the new head coach at Walker. Casper had been an assistant at Lovett, coaching the offense and running backs.
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